How Much Should I Charge as a Lawyer in New York?

Charge too much and you lose clients. Charge too little and you lose profits.

The Clio Legal Trends Report shows exactly what New York lawyers charge, bill, and collect, so you can stay competitive and profitable.

Key New York Benchmarks (2025):

• Lawyers average hourly rate: $420/hour
• Law firms average hourly rate: $387/hour
• Cost-of-living–adjusted (lawyers): $390/hour
• Cost-of-living–adjusted (law firms): $359/hour
• KPI benchmarks: Utilization – 35% | Realization – 81% | Collection – 92%
• Top-earning practice areas in New York: Tax ($576/hr), Immigration ($560/hr), Corporate ($550/hr)
• Lowest-earning practice areas in New York: Insurance ($201/hr), Personal Injury ($216/hr), Medical Malpractice ($226/hr)

These numbers reflect what firms across New York are earning right now. Use them to set a rate that’s competitive and aligned with the market.

Lawyers' Hourly Rates in New York

Legal billing in New York covers a wide range. According to the Clio Legal Trends Report, rates stretch from $201/hour in lower-paying practice areas like Insurance lawyers to $576/hour in high-demand specialties such as Tax lawyers.

That’s a 186% difference between the lowest and highest ends of the spectrum! Your practice area matters just as much as your experience.

Compared with its neighbors, New York sits comfortably above average as per Clio’s reporting.

• Connecticut lawyers average $404/hour
• Massachusetts lawyers average $331/hour
• New Jersey lawyers average $363/hour
• Pennsylvania lawyers average $311/hour
• Vermont lawyers average $297/hour

At $420 per hour on average, New York is priced above all its neighboring states, reflecting a premium position in the region.

In short, your hourly rate in New York shouldn’t just reflect time spent. It should reflect market reality, specialization, and value.

Lawyers Hourly Rates by Practice Area in New York

Every practice area tells a story.

Some pay top dollar, others barely cover the hours you put in. Check out what New York lawyers really charge, bill, and collect.

Hourly Rates for New York Law Firms

— Unadjusted Hourly Rates for New York Lawyers

New York lawyers bill an average of $387/hour (not adjusted for cost of living) — meaning this number reflects raw billing rates, not what those dollars are worth after local expenses.

By comparison, New Jersey averages $328/hour and Pennsylvania $291/hour. This puts New York roughly 15-35% higher than its nearby peers.

— Adjusted Hourly Rates for New York Lawyers

When adjusted for cost of living, New York lawyers average $359/hour, reflecting what their billing power looks like after factoring in local expenses and regional purchasing power.

By comparison, New Jersey averages $301/hour and Pennsylvania $299/hour, keeping New York above its neighboring states — and competitive across the northeastern legal market.

New York Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Your hourly rate is only part of the story. What really determines profit is your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

KPIs reflect how many of your hours turn into income. According to the Clio Legal Trends Report 2025, New York lawyers perform close to the national averages in all 3 key areas.

— Utilization rate 35%

This is the percentage of a lawyer’s total workday spent on billable, revenue-generating work. 

The national average is 37%, and New York is below it with 35%, underscoring how efficiency drives earning potential.

— Realization rate 81%

Your realization rate shows how much of your billable time actually makes it onto an invoice - after write-offs, discounts, or canceled work.

In New York, lawyers realize about 81% of the hours they log, roughly in line with the national average of 86%. By comparison, Texas comes in at 87%, which means New York, at 81%, is slightly behind in converting tracked hours into billed revenue.

— Collection rate 92%

Collection rate measures how much of that billed revenue actually gets paid.

New York lawyers collect 92% of what they invoice, just under the national average of 93%. Hawaii, by contrast, maintains a 96% collection rate, showing how strong follow-up and payment systems can make a measurable difference in total earnings.

Law Firm vs Solo Lawyers Rates in New York

— Lawyer Rates

— Law Firm Rates

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Frequently Asked Questions